The Overlap in Between

The beginning of a new short story! Looking for feedback on what I have right now. Still a Work in Progress!

The Overlap in Between



She was digging her own grave. Literally. This isn’t a metaphor for something deep and meaningful. She was standing in the cemetery, shovel in hand, digging a hole six feet deep to be laid to rest in. It was finally time for her to sleep forever.

After centuries of being in a constant state of awareness, Shakina was ready to die. No, she wasn’t a werewolf, or a vampire, or any kind of cliche mystical being. It just felt like centuries. She was a person, a living, breathing person, who just couldn’t get the hang of sleeping.

* * * * *

The summer was almost over, and Shakina had been roaming for what seemed like years. Her hair was long and unkempt, her clothes torn and stained, her pockets empty.

She thought she had just passed through Texas, but she couldn’t remember. Her thoughts were clouded, and when she tried to remember things, it was like remembering a dream; bits and pieces came back to her, but she couldn’t fill in the holes. She had feelings about things, but no certainty of whether or not it was fact or fiction.

Her stomach rumbled. I should eat, she thought. She stopped on the side of the road and opened the bag she was carrying on her back. She looked through it, and managed to scavenge out a candy bar. Last one, better savor it.

It wasn’t long after she had eaten that she realized she didn’t have anymore water. What a nightmare, ran through her mind. But, still, she marched on.

Marching was the only thing she did, since sleep evaded her. It was a constant chase that was never finished. She found food wherever she could manage, and did the same for water. Needless to say, her body was shutting down. Her mind still went on, but just barely.

* * * * *

Sydney woke up one morning to the sound of someone talking. No, it was two people talking. It sounded as if they were arguing. She crept from her bed and tiptoed down the stairs to hear her parents fighting. That’s unusual. They never fight.

“I don’t care what you saw, Francis, our daughter is not one of those people!” She heard her mother cry.

“I’m telling you, Gloria, I saw her and the neighbor girl kissing. We have to face the facts! Our daughter is a homosexual.!” Her father shrieked.

“Well, what do we do? We can’t let her be like that, can we?” Gloria pleaded.

“There’s camps for this kind of thing. She’s probably ill, or confused. It’s a very confusing time in the world.” He suggested.

Before she could even listen to her mother's reply. Sydney flew back up the stairs into her room. She locked the door behind her and tried to catch her breath. She had to think, had to plan. She would not be sent to some camp. There was nothing wrong with her. Was there? No. She was just different. But not so different that she was alone.

She had decided. She would pack her bags and leave. Forever.

* * * * *

Shakina had tripped over rocks several times before she realized how much she was bleeding. She decided to stop for a bit and rest, attempt to bandage herself, when she found a necklace in her bag, but it wasn’t just any necklace though. It was a locket.

She was about to look inside of it when she heard someone call out to her.

“Hey! Hey, wait!” She heard a woman’s voice shout.

Shakina took off, not wanting to get into trouble. She ran and didn’t look back.

* * * * *

Sydney had finished packing her things when she realized she had no clue where she was going to go. She didn’t even know how she was going to get out of the house without being caught.

She managed to slide out through her window by tying her sheets together. Then she bolted to her neighbors house. She knocked on the back door several times before Lucy answered it, confusion very clearly all over her face.

“Sydney, what happened? Come inside, hurry.” Lucy rushed.

    She walked in and they hurried into Lucy’s room before Sydney explained anything.

    “What's wrong?” Lucy begged.

    Sydney took a deep breath and tried to calm herself. She was trembling.

    “I, uh, heard my parents talking this morning. They saw us the other day. They're going to send me to some camp to try and “fix” me.” At this point the tears were running down her face freely. “I don’t know what to do. I packed a bag and, I--”

“Are you running away?” Lucy demanded.

“No, no. I don’t know. It’s not really running away. I’m almost eighteen.” Sydney stammered.

“In six months!” Lucy cried exasperated.

Sydney stayed silent for a moment, afraid of what she was about to ask of her.

“Will you come with me?” She whispered.

Lucy’s eyes widened. She took a step back and steadied herself against the wall. Run away? What would they do? How would they survive?

* * * * *

Shakina didn’t make it far before she tripped again. The woman caught up to her, as she was attempting to crawl away.

“Hey, are you okay? Are you hurt? Can I help you?” Her voice sounded familiar, but she couldn’t place it.

“I’m fine, leave me alone!” She grumbled to the mystery woman.

“You don’t look fine. Why don’t you let me help you? I’ve got bandages, and water, and--”

“I said I’m fine. Leave!” She shouted.

The woman stepped back, shocked that this ragged stranger, obviously in need of help, would so definitively refuse her assistance. She turned around, ready to leave and give up, when the glimmer of gold caught in the corner of her eye. She whipped around and stared intently at the locket that was hanging from Shakina’s hand.

“Where did you get that?” The woman demanded, her voice trembling with anger, shock, and fear.

“I don’t remember. Aren’t you leaving?” Shakina growled. Her head started aching.

“What do you mean you don’t remember?”The woman screamed.

Anxiety, fear, and rage were building inside of the stranger, she couldn’t contain it. And it couldn’t possibly be a coincidence.

* * * * *

Lucy was sitting on her bed now, her head spinning with anxiety, and the possibility of excitement. She couldn’t think with clarity.

“I...I...I want to, Sydney. But--”

“I know my parents will tell your parents.” Sydney hastily added.

“Sydney,” Lucy whispered, “I can’t just leave. I’m sorry.”

Sydney slowly slid down to the floor, her head on her knees. Her world crumbling down around her, she breathed in and calmed the storm inside her.

Lucy sat beside her and wrapped her arms around her, her own tears falling silently. She kissed Sydney’s cheek, and she turned her face to Lucy and kissed her, a gentle, heartbreaking kiss. A last goodbye.

They stood together, and embraced. Lucy took Sydney in her arms and held her, pouring all of her love that she had for her into this last embrace. They pulled apart, tears in both of their eyes, as Lucy pulled off a necklace and placed it around Sydney’s neck, a gold locket.

* * * * *

The stranger was still there as Shakina struggled to remember why this gold locket would be significant to someone. She didn't even know why she had it. She couldn't remember.

“My name is Lucy. I've been looking for someone for a while. Do you remember your name?” The strange woman said.

     “I'm Shakina. I think. I thought you were leaving.” Shakina growled.

“I can, if you want. But it looks like you’re in pretty rough shape. I thought, maybe I could drive you somewhere and maybe gets some food and clean up a bit.” Lucy breathed.

Shakina thought about it. What were the odds this weird lady was a mass serial killer, and she would be her next victim? Even if she was, what did it matter if she died?

“Fine,” was Shakina’s response.

* * * * *